Newborn to 3 weeks old:
Our puppies are cared for in a cozy, climate-controlled indoor environment where they are kept safe, clean, and comfortable. During this time, they receive lots of love, gentle handling, and early sensory experiences to help them grow into well-adjusted little companions. We introduce them to different textures, scents, and gentle movements to encourage healthy development. If needed, we provide bottle feeding with puppy milk replacement to ensure they are thriving. Daily cleanings with puppy-safe wipes keep them fresh and happy!
3 weeks old:
The fun and learning begins! Our puppies start learning basic obedience and manners, along with early potty training. They are introduced to simple commands such as:
🐾 "Go to bed" – guiding them to their cozy playpen space
🐾 "Go potty" – teaching them to use potty pads indoors or go potty outside on artificial grass
🐾 "Hey" or "No" – understanding boundaries and when to stop a behavior
🐾 "Sit" – learning to sit down when asked
🐾 "Let's go" – time to head inside
🐾 "Focus" – making eye contact and paying attention
🐾 "Good girl/boy" – always paired with treats for positive reinforcement!
3 weeks old:
At this stage, puppies start their weekly grooming routine, which includes baths, ear cleaning, nail trims, face and hygiene haircuts, and blow-dry to keep them feeling and looking their best.
4 to 5 weeks old:
Puppies transition to eating both dry and wet dog food, making sure their tummies are happy.
6 to 8 weeks old:
Puppies receive their first puppy vaccinations, consisting of: Canine Parvovirus (CPV), Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), Canine Adenovirus (CAV), Canine Parainfluenza (CPIV)
7 to 8 weeks old:
Puppies are confidently eating dry and wet dog food, making mealtime an easy transition when they join their forever families.
We create a fun and comfy space where our puppies feel right at home in their indoor puppy playpen! They quickly learn that this is their special spot to rest and relax. Potty training starts early, puppy learns to use potty pads indoors and gets plenty of supervised outdoor potty breaks. This early exposure sets them up for long-term success, making potty training a breeze for their future families! 🐶
Throughout the day, puppies are surrounded by the everyday sounds of a loving home, handled with care, and socialized with people of all ages and other friendly dogs. They have access to food and water from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., after which we remove it to help prevent nighttime potty accidents.
8 weeks old:
Puppies are ready to be adopted by their forever families!
8 to 16 weeks old:
Training stage for puppy!
Home Environment:
Take this time to start training your puppy their new home routine and surroundings. I recommend starting with limited access in your home; start with one room at a time and begin introducing rooms of your house to your puppy as your puppy gets older and more fully potty trained.
Dog Playpen:
Create a space for just them, such as a space with their Dog Playpen , food and water bowls, bed, and potty pads. I recommend this space to be near the door you plan to take them outside, such as your back door to your back yard. Set up the puppy's play pen, the side closest to the door put their potty pad, then give them some space, then put their food and water bowl and bed/blankets on the other side of the potty pad. The gate that opens to let your puppy out of their Dog Playpen is on the side nearest to their bed.
Routine:
Start a daily schedule for them, same time every day, for when they have their meals and go outside to potty. For this age of a puppy that is rapidly growing, I recommend giving them full access to food and water from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM (sunrise to sunset), and then pick up their food and water bowls at night time to prevent overnight potty accidents.
Begin their obedience training:
Start training them tricks and commands yourself or find a dog trainer in your area. Your local veterinarian or pet stores may offer Dog Training Programs. At this age, learning/mastering simple commands such as:
🐾 "Go to bed" – going to their cozy Dog Playpen space
🐾 "Go potty" – using potty pads indoors or going potty outside
🐾 "Hey" or "No" – understanding boundaries and when to stop a behavior
🐾 "Sit" – siting down when asked
🐾 "Let's go" – time to head inside
🐾 "Focus" – making eye contact and paying attention
🐾 "Lay down" – laying down when asked
🐾 "Come here" – come to you when asked
🐾 "Paw/hand shake" – giving their paw to you when asked
🐾 "Good girl/boy" – paired with treats, petting/cuddles, or hugs/kisses for positive reinforcement!
Potty training:
Puppies have small bladders and underdeveloped control over them until around 5-6 months of age. Here's a general guideline on how long puppies can hold their bladder based on age:
⌛ 8-10 weeks old puppy → 1 to 2 hours
⌛ 10-12 weeks old puppy → 2 to 3 hours
⌛ 3-4 months old puppy → 3 to 4 hours
Since they can't hold it long, consistent potty training is key. Taking them out frequently, before/after eating, drinking, playing, and bedtime/waking up helps prevent accidents.
Guidelines for Potty Training Success:
🚽 Take your puppy outside every 1-3 hours (more often for younger puppies).
🚽 Use a consistent potty spot so they associate the area with bathroom time.
🚽 Use a potty command like "Go potty!" to reinforce the behavior.
🚽 Reward immediately with praise and a small treat when they go outside.
🚽 Supervise indoors to prevent accidents and learn their potty cues (sniffing, circling, whining).
🚽 No punishment for accidents—instead, interrupt gently and take them designated potty area or outside.
🚽 Dog Playpen training helps because they know where their potty pad is when needed.
(Do not yell, scold, punish, or be mean to a puppy/dog for potty accidents, this will teach your dog that having to use the restroom is bad and should be kept secret. This creates a dog that will not potty in front of you, with you around, or when you want them to. Leading to potty training failure).